Revision - Component2a - Film Industry

Curran and Seaton - Power and Media Industries

• The media industries tend to be owned by a small group of people limiting the ideologies that are presented to the audience
• Conglomeration
• Where one company 'buys out' other companies, in order to become larger and to eliminate competition.

David Hesmondhalgh - Media Industries

• Media industries are organised in certain ways.
• Vertical Integration
• Where an organisation acquires another organisation 'up or down' in the production chain. For example, Paramount Pictures own Showcase cinemas.
• Horizontal Integration
• Where an organisation buys others in the same sector. For example, Stream publishing focuses purely on magazines.
• Digital/Multi Media Integration
• "They buy into other related areas of cultural industry production to ensure cross-promotion"

Sonia Livingstone and Peter Lunt - Regulation

• 'Regulation' refers to the rules and restrictions that every media industry has to follow. For example the UK film industry must use the BBFC's age certifications, and television must adhere to OFCOM's regulations

• There is a struggle in recent UK regulation policy between the need to further the interests of citizens (by offering protection from harmful or offensive material), and the need to further the interests of consumers (by ensuring choice, value for money, and market competition)

• The increasing power of global media corporations, together with the rise of convergent media technologies and developments in the production, distribution and marketing of digital media have placed traditional approaches to media regulation at risk.

• Online media production, distribution and circulation in particular often allows producers to completely ignore media regulations

Question: How have the films you have studied been shaped by economic factors?

Underline

How have the films you have studied been shaped by economic factors?

Knee Jerk

Both films have been absolutely influenced by economic factors, with I, Daniel Blake being an independently produced film with political themes, and Straight Outta Compton being a major release with mass market appeal.

Plan

• I, Daniel Blake distributed by eOne films

• Straight Outta Compton distributed by Universal Pictures

• Ken Loach is the director of I, Daniel Blake

• I, Daniel Blake was made in 2016

• Straight Outta Compton was made in 2015

• I, Daniel Blake was produced by BFI (royal charter) and BBC

• Straight Outta Compton was produced by Legendary Pictures

• Straight Outta Compton is Biopic

• I, Daniel Blake is a Social Realist film which are usually hard hitting, political films

• I, Daniel Blake is a little indie film

• Straight Outta Compton is a major film

• Advertising Strategies

• Social Media

• hashtag straightouttaxxxx

• hashtag wearealldanielblake

• I, Daniel Blake made 15.8mil

• Straight Outta Compton made 201.6mil box office

Content

• Straight Outta Compton

• Trailer uses remixed, modernised, versions of the original songs, targeting not only an existing fanbase, but also a new audience.

• Straight Outta Compton cut the film down that was shown in cinemas to be suitable for a wider range of audience giving it an age certificate of 15 meaning that their profits will increase, however they still distributed the 18 version but online so it didn't affect their profits as much as it would if they distributed the 18 into cinemas.

• Straight Outta Compton can be accessed digitally showing that they are getting more money from distributing it to a range of sights. Also through marketing techniques they can build up an already founded fandom so digital streaming sights will be more willing to pay a big fee for the movie as they may think they will get more subscriptions.

• Straight Outta Compton had a budget of 28-50million. It is a mid to high budget for Hollywood films. High stakes in terms of budget.

• The trailer had 7.5 million views, indicates a viral online success.

• Target audience is a mass, generalised audience, with a particular focus on young, black men.

• Predominantly black cast, and a black director. From a sociohistorical perspective it is deemed as a hard sell.

• Teaser photos released days before the film's release, on social media. Downloaded 6 million times. Innovative marketing strategy and an example of viral marketing.

• Regulation: BBFC 15 certificate when released theatrically. Film was re-edited to ensure a lower age certificate to reach a bigger audience and teenagers with expendable income.

• Film was also released as an 18 rated directors cut.

• Distributed through Netflix reaching a larger home audience. Also Now TV.

• Produced by Legendary Pictures, a higher producer specialising in big budget blockbusters.

• Distributed by Universal Pictures, a vertically integrated, international conglomeration.

• An international marketing campaign, targeting the big movie territories.

• Social media marketing, viral, hashtags...

• Star appeal - sold through the likeness of NWA.

• I, Daniel Blake

• The trailer had 1.2 million views. Word of mouth, viral media.

• I, Daniel Blake can be accessed digitally showing that they are getting more money from distributing it to a range of sights. Also through marketing techniques they can build up an already founded fandom so digital streaming sights will be more willing to pay a big fee for the movie as they may think they will get more subscriptions.

• Co-produced by many smaller organisations and stakeholders.

• A British, French and Belgian co-production, demonstrating internationalism.

• Small, specialised and niche audience necessitates its budget its met through a variety of sources.

• Risky from an economic perspective: heavily politicised ideological message, favouring the left wing labour party.

• Depressing and hard hitting theme.

• Largely unknown actors, lacks star appeal.

• Low budget leads to low production values.

• Subsidised cinema tickets at £3.50 in order to ensure a working class audience are able to see it.

• However, the film predominantly attracted a white middle class audience, which is typical of Loaches films.

• Also released in other European countries, Moi, Daniel Blake.

• Won the Palme D'or, the biggest prize at the Cannes film festival.

• I, Daniel Blake was funded by a range of different companies this was to reduce the risk of the films and to be risk-adverse.

• Screened in social clubs in events around the UK.